Safer, better equipped, and more stylish: that’s the facelifted Mercedes CLA in a nutshell, though if you’re looking for huge upgrades you won’t find them here.
Both the CLA Coupe and its Shooting Brake brother feature subtly revised styling that includes standard LED lights for the first time and a star-design grille, while the AMG 35 performance version gains the toothy Panamericana unit previously reserved for the top-dog 45.
Inside, there’s a greater use of recycled materials and base cars get 7-in and 10.25-in free-standing displays that can be optionally upgraded to the twin 10.25-in units fitted to more expensive models. Like other recently revised Mercedes cars, the CLA junks the old MBUX infotainment system’s console trackpad in favor of a storage area, and there’s now immersive Dolby Atmos surround sound for the high-end optional Burmester sound system.
There are a couple of changes under the hood, too. The 161 hp (163 PS) 250 e hybrid model’s electric motor now makes 107 hp (109 PS / 80 kW), which is 7 hp (7 PS) more than before, and its battery can be charged at up to 11 kW where the old one would only accept 7.4 kW of AC power. DC charging still tops out at a slothful 22 kW meaning a 10-80 percent fill of the small 15.6 kWh battery is always going to take at least 25 minutes.
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Go for the hybrid CLA Coupe and you’ll get to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 7.6 seconds and cover around 51 miles (82 km) on a charge. Choose the more practical wagon and you add a tenth and lose a couple of miles from those numbers. Other engine options (depending on the market) include 1.3-liter four-cylinder engines in the CLA 180 and 200, 2.0-liter fours making up to 221 hp (224 PS) in the CLA 220 and 250, and three diesels developing between 114 hp (116 PS) and 187 hp (190 PS).
The AMG-developed CLA 35 also gets a taste of hybrid power, though we’re talking about a 48-volt mild hybrid starter-generator system, rather than full plug-in hardware. Power and torque remain unchanged at 302 hp (306 PS) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm), and there’s no improvement in the 4.9-second zero to 62 mph time. If you want to go faster you’ll need to upgrade to the 415 hp (421 PS) CLA 45 S which can do the job in 4.1 seconds.
If the 45 is on your shopping list you might want to consider the new AMG Street Style Edition. Available in both body styles but only with the 45 powertrain, it combines stealthy mountain gray magno paint with a foil AMG logo and chequered flag design, plus AMG Night Packages I and II and bright orange stitching for the microfiber upholstery.
Mercedes hasn’t released prices yet, but when cars start arriving in dealers later this year they’re unlikely to cost much more than the existing car. In the U.S., the current CLA is offered in 250, 350 and AMG 35 and 45 editions.
